Introduction
I’m absolutely loving my new GTM Mustang wheelchair so far and it’s already making a massive difference to my life since I got it about a month ago on the 5th March. - I will do another update in a few months to say how I’m getting on with it even more as I settle down and hopefully go on a few adventures.
My previous wheelchair
My old NHS chair was an InvaCare Action 3 chair. I’d had it 8 years so it had served me well. When I first got it it met my needs but the past 3 or so years it’s been more of a struggle for me and hasn’t really been meeting my needs so I’ve been researching different options. Id looked into both electric and manual and demoing different chairs, reading reviews, looking at what chairs other people have, pricing of chairs and everything in between. Eventually I settled on the GTM Mustang manual wheelchair.
It’s a lightweight ridged frame adjustable chair. I got it from Cyclone Mobility.
Read my blog post on ‘Getting my new GTM Mustang wheelchair’
My GTM Mustang: Customisations and how it’s benefiting me so far
My GTM Mustang wheelchair so far has given me so much more freedom and independence compared to my old NHS wheelchair and I can really see it opening up doors to me.
I also love that aesthetically my new chair looks more ‘me’. Plus with it being an active wheelchair when I’m in it I feel like I look more like an ‘active disabled person’ who is independent and capable. My previous NHS wheelchair was more clinical looking and I’d tried to personalise the wheels and I used to love it when people said ‘I love your wheels’ when I was out in that chair but this new chair I feel more ‘me’. - When you’re in a wheelchair it becomes an extension of your body; it becomes part of you. They literally are my legs to help me get around so I feel it needs to look part of me too. My new wheelchair feels like my own pair of designer shoes. (It probably cost a few pairs of Jimmy Choo’s too!)
Choosing a frame was so hard (you won’t believe the dilemma I went through)! After a lot of changing of my mind and deliberation I went for a polished metal frame. - I was actually inspired by Gem’s at ‘WheelsNoHeels’ GTM Jaguar chair frame choice. I’m quite glad I’ve gone for this over a painted frame as in time it won’t get chipped and scratched like paint would.
I also went for all black upholstery and threading (I thought black threading would go better than white as it would blend in) and silver accents, so silver brakes and push rims. I thought silver would look nicer and more feminine than black plus it went with my frame too.
It’s a lot more comfortable to sit in my new wheelchair than it was in my old chair. The seat was designed to help with my hip and back pain. I didn’t want to sit at a 90 degree angle so my backrest is tilted back ever so slightly. My seat is an ergo seat so the back is flat and then it slopes up for my legs (if that description makes sense?) Also having the correct backrest hight has made a big difference. My shoulders have the freedom to move now when self-propelling my chair. Now I don’t have the problems I had with my shoulders that I had before like subluxed and dislocated shoulders and general shoulder pain.
Having suspension is amazing and so comfortable to ride with on my Batec.
I’m also in a much more comfortable position with my Batec when I ride with that now too. When I got my GTM chair the guy adjusted my Batec to fit with my GTM chair. Before I had to lean forward arms out and I got backache riding my Batec; not to mention the fact that I had zero suspension. Now I can comfortably sit back in my chair the Batec handlebars have been lowered my arms are nice and relaxed so I can enjoy the ride and not get in pain like before.
The only thing I would change is having my feet out a little more as I didn’t know where my Batec bracket would be fixed to under my chair. The back of my legs are touching the Batec bracket however I’ve gotten used to it so it’s not a major problem.
I do like how compact my new chair is. On my old NHS wheelchair the footplates stuck out so much. With my GTM chair being so compact and lightweight it makes it so so easy to transport. The backrest folds almost flat forward onto the seat. In my PA’s car she can easily put the backrest down and then put the whole chair in the boot. With my Dad’s car we also have to take the wheels off too but my Spinergy wheels are nice and lightweight too. It’s a million times better and easier than transporting my old chair.
Getting around in my new chair is so much easier compared to my old chair, especially because I’m not having to pushing around so much weight. This was one of the big problems with my NHS chair. I can now use my new chair in my home so when I’m really dizzy or wobbly or struggling to walk I can now get in my chair and get around and not be restricted to my bed (when I’m well enough) or be at a high risk of falling. I feel a lot safer now I have the back up option of using my chair in the house when needed. It’s also a lot easier when I go out too. I can actually push my GTM chair outside with ease too which I was unable to do before.
I’m really glad that I went for gekko grip on my push rims - they are a black strip that runs along the top of my push rims. They really aid me pushing my chair especially when my hands are in spasm or my arms are weak. I can even push my chair with just the heel of my hand. It was helpful to be advised it get the strip of gekko as Alex my rep from Cyclone Mobility advised me to get the strip of gekko grip in my push rims (if I wanted the gekko grip) to avoid friction when going downhill (as opposed to getting push rims that have gekko grip all over them).
I’m glad I reconsidered and went for the large push rims they are fabulously ergonomically shaped making them so comfortable to hold and push my chair. I’m so happy with my push rims. - Originally I was going to get small push rims as I have small hands. The large push rims actually work out much better.
It really helped Alex coming out for a second time as it gave me time to research GTM wheelchairs and chat to some GTM wheelchair users (including Gem who was really helpful). Alex had measured me up and I’d chosen some options but second time round I’d had time to think and reconsider and also be sure that this was the chair for me too. - It was definitely a no pressure sale at all.
I’m also glad that I also decided to go all-in and get Spinergy wheels. I called up after I ordered my GTM chair and asked if I could change my wheels to Spinergy wheels. (This was one thing Gem had recommended to me. Initially I wasn’t sure and thought I’d get them at a later date but I then I thought that I may as well get them with my chair). They add to the suspension (as well as the suspension in my chair and tyres) and are lighter in weight than other wheels. The white spokes also look nice with the silver in my chair.
I’m really glad I also changed the plastic mudguards and footplates for carbon fibre ones as they look a lot more stylish than plastic. I think the plastic would have ruined the look of my chair and made it look cheap. The mudguards go over the top of the wheels so my clothes are well protected from the wheels and splash-back.
One thing that I’m really happy about that I thought I’d have to pay for is inside the front castors they’re silver the match my frame; I thought they’d be black inside. I went for thick castors on this chair as this makes it easier to go over grass, gravel, sand etc. Thin castors get stuck which is the problem I had with my old chair.
Another option I’m glad I chose was the pocket on the back of my wheelchair. It was something Alex said he finds useful on his chair and now I think I’d be lost without mine. It’s a lot bigger than I thought it would be and I can fit a lot inside. I struggled with the small zip so I put a zipper pull on it to help me.
With my chair being such a lightweight chair it allows me to use it with more ease and along with some of the customisations I’ve gone for like with my push rims this enables me to still be able to use a manual wheelchair. Using a manual wheelchair is really important to me as I want to be able to be as active as I can for as long as I’m able to. Maybe in three or five years time I might need something like power assist wheels like a SmartDrive device to help me continue using my chair, who knows? My Batec is also great as when I’m tired and unable to push or in a situation where I need the power of my Batec I can connect that to my manual chair and zoom off. It’s great to have that option between my manual chair and the power assistance.
So all-in-all so far I’m getting on really well with my new GTM wheelchair and it’s really benefitting me and making a huge positive impact on my life overall. I’m looking forward to summer coming and I already have a few places I’d like to go to now I finally have my GTM chair and the long wait for it to arrive was definitely worth it!
